OX Tools UK joins the BMF

OX Tools UK is the latest supplier to join the Builders Merchants Federation.

The company’s hand tool range was created in 1974 in Australia and launched under the OX brand in the UK in 2012.

It currently employs over 50 people in the UK and anticipates turnover of £19 million in 2018.

Jason Elkins, OX Group’s National Accounts Manager – UK & Europe, said: “OX Group are delighted to be joining the BMF, the voice of the Builders Merchant Industry.

“We see an excellent synergy as many of the BMF members are already long term and strategic customers of OX Group. It will be an excellent opportunity to meet the owners and senior directors of these businesses and look to continuing to grow these long term relationships.

“We also see the data and information that is only available to BMF members as vital to the ongoing success of our business and preparing us for the changes that lie ahead in the industry.”

John Newcomb, BMF CEO, said: “It is especially gratifying to see the value placed on the BMF’s data, information and networking services by OX Group.

“We aim to support every size and type of business involved in building materials supply in the UK.

“This includes relatively recent entrants to the UK market, like OX, and others that have been established for well over 100 years, like the BMF itself.”

Financial journalist and TV broadcaster, Steph McGovern, kick-started the Industry Forum on day two of this year’s BMF All-Industry Conference, and talked to delegates about the skills gap issues in the industry, and the importance of recruiting a younger generation into the merchanting sector.